Pretty Prudent Wishlist: Our Favorite Kids’ Books of the Year

This year there has been a big wave of incredible kids’ books being published. Some have only pictures, others have only words, some have big lessons, others are all about being silly and fun. For this wishlist we focused on our favorite books that have come out this year (and a few others we just couldn’t pass up sharing). I assure you they also have a Scarlet, Clare, Quinn, and Gordon stamp of approval. We love hearing about new titles, so please feel free to share your favorite kids’ books in the comments below!

Dallas Clayton’s new book, Lily the Unicorn is a must for their holiday book collection. Follow Lily the Unicorn as she teachers her friend, Roger the penguin, that he shouldn’t be afraid of trying new things, because the world is a wonderfully amazing and exciting place.

Mac Barnett, the other of a one of our favorite books, Extra Yarn, has a new book out this year – Telephone. This witty book plays off the childhood game by the same name. See what happens when Mama Bird tries to get the other birds to relay a message to her son to come home for dinner.

The Book with No Pictures proves you can’t judge a book by its cover. B.J. Novak’s seemingly serious cover is just a disguise for the hilarity that ensues inside.

Have You Seen My Dragon? – a creative spin on a counting book for kids with intricate pen-and-ink illustrations that detail a little boy who hunts up,down, and all around the city for his dragon friend.

Jumping Jack does not exactly perform like the famous, champion show-jumping horse he is. Thankfully, his loyal rider is prepared to get right down to the root of the problem and show Jumping Jack that friends stick together.

Journey – no words are needed when the illustrations bring this story to life. This beautifully illustrated book pays homage to the classic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, as a little girl sets out on an epic adventure with her magical red crayon in hand.

We are big fans of Emily Winfield Martin and will definitely have Day Dreamers: A Journey of Imagination on our lists this year. Through Emily’s beautiful artwork and storytelling, she encourages kids to create their own magical adventures right in their own imaginations.

Sometimes making The Most Magnificent Thing can be a little harder than you expected. When this little girl tries to make just that, she finds it isn’t as easy as she expected and wants to quit, but her faithful dog encourages her to try, try again.

The World of Mamoko in the Year 3000 will keep you totally entertained as it encourages kids to create their own narrative, while also keeping their eyes open wide to find all the hidden treasures in this look-and-find book.

I was immediately captivated by The Bear’s Sea Escape just flipping through the pages. Beautifully detailed illustrations set the stage for the thrilling adventure Papa Bear goes on to find Little Bear. Never did he expect to take a journey from the Paris Opera House to the ocean!

Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space is a great start for teaching kids big concepts like the universe. Professor Astro Cat breaks down topics such as time, gravity, and more in a book that is totally out of this world.

Do you follow Humans of New York on Instagram? If so, you are already familiar with the brilliant street photographer, Brandon Stanton. If not, I highly suggest you do. Brandon has taken to the streets photographing the little humans this time, and created his own story in this new picture book, Little Humans.

An unexpected friendship grows between one adorable penguin and his treasured pinecone in Salina Yoon’s Penguin and Pinecone.

Sparky! the sloth might not do very much, but he sure does make one irresistible pet. When a famous author and the production designer of Coraline come together, you know they are going to make something special.